Hello All,
I'm writing to you today with a hopeful message. In order to do this I must start with a story of how it all began for me and the big beginning that is yet to come. I live in southwest Missouri mostly farm land around here, in fact my family owns and operates a fairly large farm. Of course my stepfather is stuck in his ways and all the land we have here is for crop and cattle. He will probably help me with the purchase of new land without the knowledge of what I am going to actually do with it. I’m currently in the process of finding a thousand acres or more, which I fully intend to build as a horse ranch. A sanctuary for Horses would be more appropriate I intend on rescuing horses as many as I can and rehabilitating them whatever their needs maybe. But before I get to in-depth of all that here is my story, I never had the opportunity as a child to be around horses all the way up until I was 20 actually. We always had the farm and our livestock but no horse so needless to say I was deprived. Then my brother bought our first horse Slick a wonderful majestic animal who is still the boss of us all to this day. Then we caught a few more in need of training these were but my step father sure wasn’t going to pay for training so it fell to me. Now I learn quickly so I read books and disagreed with allot of what I read. So I decided to just wing and see if I could succeed. I do have my own ideals and people disagree with me all the time and tell me it’s impossible but I do it every day. I’ve been training my own horse for about 7 years now and I’ll never stop learning and I always thought my way of training them was unique and people around here were amazed with what could be done just by me asking the horse to do it, no force, no anger just a simple question and a conversation with my horses. I knew nothing of Monty Roberts up to about 3 years ago. Believe it or not my sister was watching the Horse whisper and even though I completely disagree with a lot of that movie it sparked my curiosity. So I looked it up and low and behold there was Monty’s book The man who listens to horses and I thought hey I can relate to this guy. So I bought the book read it one sitting couldn’t put it down. That’s when I realized I’m not the only one there are thousands upon thousands of us that truly want the very best of everything for our horses. So in realizing my own very precious gift to be able to understand a horse and to have them understand me in return without words from that day I decided then and there my life’s dream and work would be to build the biggest and best Sanctuary for them. Where they can come and just be horses. A place to rescue horse from abuse and rehabilitate them to give them the very best of homes. Now I know I cannot keep them all I would if I could so like I said Finding the very best of homes for the ones I cannot keep is definitely a priority. Not only do I intend to care for the horse but I intend to educate their humans as well. Teach the right ways of doing everything a mix of Monty’s way and my own. I also fully intend on implementing a rider training program for any and all, and a place especially for the disabled a place for them all to ride and be taught how and be taught just how majestic these animals really are. I firmly believe in the healing power of horses, their pure hearts, their ability to bring a smile no matter the times at hand, their ability to give us wings even though we may have thought we would never fly again. Horses are my life this is my dream to make the world a better place. I will see it through no matter the obstacles no matter how many tell me its impossible. I’m not afraid to ask for help I am afraid of nothing I will sacrifice everything if that’s what it takes but this will be a reality. I don’t know how to fail. So to all my fellow horse lovers I ask your support, words of encouragement any and all advice is welcome I will appreciate anything and everything you could tell me. This will also be a totally not for profit business I ask nothing for myself only for the horses and all the people that they will be able to help. I’m not asking for money or anything of the sort only advice and encouragement.
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P.S. I am also planning in the very near future to go learn from Monty's full traing and certification program.
Hey, what a great idea! I aqree with you 100% on using what you know along with what Monty teaches, that is what I do. I would like to do something like that, but not in the cards. Heres hoping all the best for you and all the horses you WILL help. Go for it! Actually, what I would do, if I could, would be to get a big place where I could give a home to some of the unadoptable mustangs that are kept in pens so they could run free. That is sort of rescuing them, isnt it?
Its great that you have an understanding with horses, as I do, that helps so much.I have always said, the best way to train a horse is to get him to do what you want because he wants to do it, not because he has to, or is afraid not to. And it sounds like that is the way you think too. So you should succeed very well. Keep us posted on your progress.
Thank you for the great comment and idea about the mustangs. To be honest I have thought about that before and the sanctuary I am planning on building will be forever expandable and would love to designate 2000 acres or more just for the mustangs to run free and be themselves. By far one of the greatest things to behold just watching in aww the mustangs run. I fully intend to have this ranch ever expanding no limit to the land to be had or the horse that graze upon it. Every horse deserves a good home and good humans. And I do agree with your way of training and I will add this. My horses have taught me more than any human ever could. And they will continue to do so for the rest of my days you just have to be willing to listen. They know exactly what they are doing you just have to talk to them and more importantly listen. Every horse just like humans have very unique personalities they have every personality from the old grumpy stick in the mud to the class clown. My horses are my friends.
"A horse doesn't care how much you know until they know how much you care"
P.S. I will keep you posted i will also be posting pictures and youtube videos of the land and building projects and so on as they come to be. I fully intend on developing a website which I will be sure to post here when its ready. I just got back home from looking at the first piece of land I plan to purchase a few minutes ago. I know at some point I will be needing trainers I can only train so many horses at a time as well as a onsight vet which I thihnk I already have 2 lined up. I plan on putting in one of the best rehab facilities ever seen. Go BIG or Go HOME is the way I see it and I don't know how to fail I'm dedicating my entire life to this one reality.
I admire your commitment I would love to do something on a much smaller scale I live in Utah and land out here is very expensive not to mention the cost of hay. I hope you have the financial resources to accomplish your dream. I always find myself holding back from what I'd really like to do because I don't have the money to make it happen. I would love to someday be able to certify with Monty and spend my time training and working with horses. I noticed there are very few certified trainers here in the United States and most of them are in California. I would love to have facilities like Monty (on a smaller scale) but that I could train even in the winter. It's so cold and snowy here in the winter, we have very few warm months to be outside. January and February are especially difficult, I tend to get cabin fever during those months wishing I was out of the house. Good luck to you, I hope it all works out!
Well here is the kicker to be honest the financial resourses I have are no where near what they should be for this project. However you never really know what you are fully capable of until you try. I'm certainly not made of money but I won't give up and I don't care how many people tell me it can't be done. Impossibility is only a state of mind and thus can always be overcome. Now I know that this will take the rest of my life to accomplish, and I also know that I will not be able to do it on my own. The only way that this will become a reality is by the support of everyone who cares to lend a hand whether it be words of encouragement or advice, time or money. It is the only way to accomplish something of such massive proportions. But the first thing that must be done is the proof that the beginning is possible. This means the first piece of ground be bought, the first facility built, the first horse rescued and rehabed, the first smile of the first child when riding that horse for the first time. There must always be a first in every venture and there must always be someone willing to make that first step. I'm taking those first stepsand taking all the risk I just hope beyond hope that once the first step is taken there will be others that are willing to follow. I will never let down take everything away from me and I will build it all again just to prove it can be done. But heres the real kicker even if I lose everything and have to build it all again so long as I saved one horse and helped one child ride one horse that other wise could not have been and that child smiles and knows what it is to truly be free, then it is all worth it no matter the cost. Hope is the greatest feeling you can give anyone or anyone animal and I feel so long as I have done that then I HAVE succeeded!!!!!!
Wow! DC this is impressive and I guess it is a dream that most of us would nurture so good luck in making it your reality. I admire your commitment and enthusiasm. The fiancial resources required for such a venture are mind boggling so I do hope you can find some sponsors to help out.
Land here in the southern Colorado foothills is also very expensive. The ranch my husband works on has over 25,000 acres and is for sale for $15 million. I would buy it if I could. One reason it is so expensive is because it has water, which a lot of places around here dont have enough of. And, it is beautiful.
DC, it's so refreshing and inspirational to see someone with such faith and hope in their future. I wish I had such faith in myself to accomplish my dreams, you have inspired me to not give up on what I want but to find a way to make things happen.
Thank you,
So DC you want to start a rescue center. Good for you. Sounds to me that you want this center to also be available to the public, children.
I worked in business for over 30 years and with your kind of get-go. You can do this!!!!!
Get out a phone book and start going through the business section. You are looking for LARGE companies. Do not talk to anyone but the C.O.
The reason for this is an underdog will always put you off. When you call ask casually, "could you tell me who OWNS the company".
If they ask why you want to know, tell them," I am doing a survey for this project....." You are not lying you are doing a survey. Do not tell THEM too much, the less they know the better. Wait until you speak with the CO'S, with the following:
Make a list of the C.O.'S and then the next day start calling them and ask for an appointment. You want to speak with them in person.
Before you see anyone you need to have a professional outline, that most bank managers will help you with, for free.
With this outline, every single detail, go to see the appointments you have made.
Your goal is to pitch for sponsers or partners (silent). This is a tax cut for them, make sure you mention this.
Also, make the WHOLE community aware of your goal and especially WHY you want to do this.
You can also hold a benefit party, tickets for $$$$$$, stating it is to support a program you want to start for rescued horses.
Now, not just anyone is going to give you money, they may think it is a scam so you need to be partners with reputable bank manager who will be responsible for the money and dish it out as needed.
This will be a constant battle, looking for money but you can do it.
Talk to local farmers, for fee supplies, hey and grain.
Talk to vets for free health care.
Talk to local feed stores for free products.
Talk to local tack stores for anything they may want to give.
Go to insurance companies, to get breaks.
You see where I am going with this.....
Start getting prepared now, get everything down on paper take it to a bank ask what they think and for advice.
Type it up, percentiles and all and then hit the streets and phones......
Ronda
Thank you all and I am very glad to here of your renewed inspiration, and that I had any influence on it at all makes me feel great and makes me want to drive even hard to accomplish my goals. I am sure I will be able to find sponsers Maggie, the trick to it is not to give up no matter how many times you hear the word no. And the work I already have in progress should I hope give anyone and everyone the inspiration to able even if its a peeny at time. Rome was not built in a day nor will be this dream of mine. Our only limits as people are those that we impose upon ourselves, so far as I am concerned I have no limits.
Kleinnep, I am sure you can accomplish your dreams the same as me and faith is the key. Just take it one step at a time and when that step is taken take the next and before you know it you'll look back and say I did that dispite the opposition I did that. You'll look back and say I made the impossible possible I made my dreams come true now what can I do tomorrow the possibilities are endless.
Phantom, I would love to find land around here at that price that comes out to $600 per acre. The land i am facing will run me anywhere from $1500 to $5000 per acre, and I am going to need tons. And dont be suprised if I show up out there and buy that 25,000 acres and expand my idea across the country. There are no limits except those we impose upon ourselves.
Rhonda, That is great advice thank you very much and I will do just that. I already have a bank manager on bored, he is actually the president of one of the banks here, and has been my banker for years. I'm also already working with a local camp for kids, you may have even heard of them it was on extreme makeover home edition a few years ago, its called Camp Barnabas. I love your ideas though I have not thought about that as of yet. As you can imagine I have 100 million things to do with new ideas rolling in by the hour. I have been using my own means as right now to buy some land to get started on. And my website will be up soon of course I am buidling it myself to save a bit of money for other things for now. I will be putting up the link for it very soon though. I love all the ideas and comments pleae keep them coming.
There is another ranch near here, also for sale, was a guest ranch so has all facilities, 848 acres, not operating now, it went out of business a few years ago. Echo Canyon Guest ranch, near La Veta, Colo, that is somewhat cheaper that you might be interested in. You can google it, there is quite a bit of info on it. Just an idea. I hadnt thought of it earlier.
Thanks Phantom for the info I'll take a look at it though I'm not sure I willing to move what I have started here all the way to colorado. Though I do love the country around there its pretty amazing. Perhaps later on when I really have things up and running I will expand to out there. I do know for a fact i am going to need allot of land and pasture ground. I'm also looking into some good farrm ground to grow my own food sources. Anything is certainly possible keep the ideas coming.
I could also use a bit of help with a good name. I have multiple ideas, but the name is very important especially for none profit it needs to be memorable and descriptive but not to long. So anyone got any ideas?
Please keep in mind that this isn't just a Equine rescue operation, it is also riding and training facility for any and all, and mostly for special needs children and aldults. So I am hoping to come up with a name that reflects all of this. I am getting closer to finishing the website which I need the name for and I also most importantly need the name for my 501 c filing for non profit business statis. Thats all it lacks is a name.
DC, I agree a name is very important.
Mine is Arberservices (business consultant). For me it says it all. As a business administrator I do all sorts of things for businesses.
So you also need to think, what am I doing, where will I be located and what does it mean to be.
Think about Monty, Flag is up farm. What does that mean. For me I picture a farm with it's flag flying, first so others will see it, next it is ready to go, and of course farm..... So one pictures something.
My daughters farm is called Two Rivers Ranch. We live between two rivers, so the location, and Ranch, people know it involves horses.
A name is very personal and should have ring to it. Such as: a special horse that is memoriable, something that triggered this idea, a child you may have in mind, etc....
Ronda
Actually, Flag is up Farms refers to race horses which is what Monty has trained for years. If you've ever watched a horse race when the horses come out of the gate the announcer will say "and the flag is up". Ronda is right, it's very descriptive of Monty's business which is training race horses. His business has expanded beyond just training race horses now to his International equine training center. I don't remember the exact name of his school, but you get the idea. You will want a name that sounds credible such as the "National equine rehab and riding center", or the "Missouri equine rescue and riding center, or you could combine the two and call it the "National equine rescue and riding center. I don't know if this encompasses everything you're thinking of but it's a start. If you just plan to be in Missouri I would probably use Missouri, but if you think you would like to expand else where I would use National, it just depends of you.
Thank you both for the great input, You both very correct. A name is personal and it should be credible. But the name will also be personal and have a different meaning for everyone that reads it. Just like you demonstrated here. Ronda the meaning of flag is up farms to you is how you see and the same goes for you kleinnep. Which I believe the meaning for monty is the same as kleinnep that was his intention. However a name still remains personal to whoever reads it. You will always associate any one name how best it fits you and into your life. Most importantly which ever name I choose to go with must be a symbol of hope and I want everyone to see it as such in whatever way means the most to them. I also don't want to be super long 3 words, 4 words at the very most for the name. Now with the name there can always be a catch phrase or description phrase that is forever associated with the name and that can be a bit longer however you still want to keep it easy to remember. One of the worst things is be easy to forget especially for a non-profit. As a non-profit you want everyone to remember who you are all year round. So to do this when I do fire this thing off officially I'm going to make sure it hits national news. Somehow someway I will pound pavement on every news station whatever it takes.
I will be going national with this at somepoint I'm already working on a alliance so to speak with several other already established horse rescues all non profit, not just in my area but over the entirity of the U.S. I have personally spoken to a dozen so far from washington state, to texas, and virgina and allot inbetween there. Everyone I have talked to so far is on board knowing this will take some time. But before long we will all form a network and be able to find more new homes for horses and help more horses and people throughout the U.S. By forming an alliance our areas will all be expanded to all of the country for placing horses, plus the fact we can help each other in so many other ways. I don't know how long this will take any of it it may happen tomorrow it may happen 10 years from now for all i know, but no matter what one step at a time it will happen.
As far as names go as of right now I am thinking of something with the word Grace in it. So many variations here. Some of the ones I like are Amazing Grace Ranch, Amazing Grace Horse Haven, Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary (already taken and one of my soon to be alliance partners), Heavens Grace Ranch, Heavens Grace Equine Sanctuary, and so on. I tend to like Amazing Grace more and thats mainly because it was my grandfathers favorite hymn, who is one of the biggest parts of my inspiration to do what i am doing. I am Christian and I believe this is my calling helping both Gods most Majestic of creatures and helping them to help people. To me anything with Amazing Grace in it speaks volumes and can mean so many things to so many people whether they realize it or not allot of times. It seems to stick in your mind easier and makes you wonder, at least to me. So what do you all think it is always a work in progress until made official.